Have to Wait

Well, people are born with arachnoid cysts, they live their whole lives with arachonid cysts never showing any symptoms whatsoever of having them, and when they die, they die with them never knowing they even had one.

-Dr. Segal

Sounds good eh? Well, basically, my cyst he said where it's at, size, etc, has never been shown to him to cause anyone any problems ever. So, i feel good about that. I do have to go back and get an MRI sunday and follow up meeting next friday with him so he can rule out any other possible things that may be wrong with me that the catscan may have missed..spinal things, really small tumor, etc., etc..Basically, I realy should be fine. Same time, i am still really looking forward to next friday coming and going and me being in a good mood after. Even though the odds of them finding anything, especially after a catscan that shows what's been causing my back/neck discomfort is VERY slim ( i passed every neuro test) i won't feel 100% clear till i hear for certain i will be.

Want to know what was mind boggling? i've had a mental image of this thing for some time now, but had no idea how big it was, so, of course, i asked. It's 3 x 4 cm in scope. Doesn't sound like much does it? But you know about what that size is? If you make an "ok" sign with your thumb and forefinger...the hole you make with you finger and thumb is the size of the cyst. Believe me, i've google imaged LOTS of these..i'm fortunate. Basically, everyone has a gap in the left temporal lobe (where, if you're fortunate) they usually form. Most cases, it fills up with with fluid and that's that. My case, and about 8% of the population's case a cyst forms there around the fluid. That's the only difference. pretty wild.

Personally, i'm almost positive it's muscular, or nerve related..it moves around too much..which, actually could mean it's a huge tapeworm or an embroyo from Alien....either way. i feel too 'perfectly fine' too often to really think it's serious.

2 out of 10

That's how my family doctor rated my level of concern about my cyst. Which, obviously, made me feel really well. I'm meeting the neurologist tomorrow, which also was the guy who happened to train my family doctor. Also cool. But basically, from the sounds of it, i should be fine. The neuro will give me concrete facts like when i should get another mri, how often, if at all and for how long, but he said he would be VERY surprised if anything ever came of it. He likened it to doing a full mri scan on anyone. Odds are, you will find SOMETHING weird about every single person that isn't anatomically perfect.

That relieved a TON of stress off me. I'll feel really good come wednesday's ending of my appointment and upon hopefully hearing similar good news. They'll have my actual cat scans there so it should be very definitive.

Movies

I've watched several movies lately...and been meaning to write about em'..I've been cleaning out my dvr and finally got thru some of the ones i've been meaning to see.

Cinderella man: Great flick. Thouroughly enjoyed it...much more then i thought i would. Great backstory and emotional finish. A must see..which is saying something cause i normally don't go for Ron Howard movies.

Assault on Precinct 13: Predictable. Don't waste your time. See Training Day if you want to see a good movie about cops. A couple unexpected deaths in the flick which i think only were made for shock value, which was stupid.

Anaconda Hunt for the Blood orchid: Big Snakes, cheesy plot, poor acting, low budget sequel to surprisingly successful original...so yes, i enjoyed it.

Alien Vs Predator: See above for Anaconda

The Departed: Great movie. Plot was well done...set in Boston, but didn't have the really bad accents you sometimes get when actors try to diversify themselves (ever see Nicholas Cage in conair? if so, you know what i mean). Jack Nicholson is the best in this kind of role and really great story. I knew there would be a surprise ending and still didn't see it coming.

Casino Royale: The new 007 james bond movie....really different direction for this series. MUCH darker and more real feeling then previous james bonds. Very gritty in how they handled his development as a character. REally enjoyed it. Too long though, they could have cut about 30 minutes out and it would have been a perfect flick. But def a must see.

Cat Scan

My neck and upper back were bothering me a lot the past week. A LOT. I was getting pins and needles like feelings in a lot of different places and said enuff was enuff. After going to my family doctor and him saying it was muscular and getting some pain relievers, it wasn't any better. So, i decided to go to the ER at St. Joe's yesterday morning.

After talking about my symptons, they said i should have a cat scan. Reminded me of something out of a star trek movie. Totally white room, a big rotating circle in the middle you lie in and while it rotates it scans your brain.

So, 4 hours later, and roughly almost 7 total hours at the ER. The doctor (resident dr. that is) came in to finally give the results of the scan.

Now, when you are expecting results about your brain, you want the doctor to have a big grin on his face and give you a high five upon entrance. This doctor didn't..It was easy to tell right off the bat he found something. So, after a deep breath (his) he told me that the good news was, nothing was found causing the problems i've been experiencig and it is probabaly just a nerve ending issue called parathesis (sp) which is just a funny name for unexplained tingling due to inflamed nerves.

Then, he said "now, there is something else we found..unrelated..to your conditions you are having..we found something on accident". Which as it turns out, was something called an Arachnoid cyst. You can read more about it at this link....it's the best one i found which seems to accurately describe the condition.

http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/arachnoid-cysts

Basically, I need to get an MRI again in a couple months, and then probably once every year to make sure it isn't growing. Right now it isn't putting any pressure on my brain (it's located between my left temple and ear and affects the area involving memory and personality) and i've probably had it since birth. It's more common in males then in females..and most often, it goes undetected for a person's life and causes no problems. However, it's important to check it at least once a year to be safe.

Basically, I should be fine from talking to the doctor and knowing it's there treatments are available and highlyl successful.

that doctor could use some better bed side manners though...i thought for sure he was going to tell me i was on my death bed from his reactin when he walked into the room.

conversely, they also gave me a better prescription for my current pains, and i am feeling a little more comfortable..i still can't wait till it's all gone and i feel 100%. At nite, i just don't want to do ANYTHING but lay down..i'm useless..BUT again, it is definitely better.

Bottom line, I 've always felt everything happens for a reason. If i hadn't gone in to take care of the issues i have right now, i never would have found out about the cyst. It's a good thing i'm having these pains in other words..while they really suck, they definitely happened for a good reason.

Flexerill (sp)

Went to the doctor...gave me a prescription of this stuff, which i haven't had in awhile. I do remember feeling reallhy good when i take it tho...

Advantage: Josh

Neck

Man, my neck has been a mess the past week. Wasn't quite sure where/when i hurt it, but i put it together finally the other day. I was doing too much lifting weights with shrugs. I strained it...for sure. I have a heating pad on it non stop when i'm home and about 30 minutes after i wake up till when i go to bed, it burns with that exhausted feeling like a muscle is completely fatigued.

i'm going to the doctor tomorrow..it gives me little shooting pains in my back and arms occasionaly and even causes head aches..and don't want to mess with it. It's hard to keep my head up, so, even tho i know there isn't anything they can do besdies prescribe ibuprofen and rest, i'll feel better knowing i'm doing something about it.

it blows. don't strain your neck. not fun.

Dr. Denzin

Well, i needed a new lift for the inside of my shoe...my old one had worn away and was leaving me with FEROCIOUS blisters on my heel. I mean blisters the size of a silver dollar. not cool. So, i called the orthopedic office at St. Joe i use to get those things made. Only, now, they need a prescription in order to do it for me, which, i haven't had since I last saw my surgeon which was probably 17 years ago.

So, i had to make an appointment with my old doctor, Dr. Denzin. I can't say i've thought a whole lot about him the last 17 years..but for about 3 years in my life he was one of the most influential people in it. So, needless to say, i was really curious to see him again.


I'm the only person I know with a hip fusion. I just recently googled it and actually found others with the exact same thing i had, which was really cool. I always thought i was the only one. It was cool reading about other people and the "little" things they have to do exactly like i do on a daily basis which most people take for granted and do with no problem.

So, i was curious to see his thoughts on me i guess is the bottom line. Well, that lasted all of about 2 minutes. I could tell he was busy, came in, gave me a prescription and had just about zero real discussion. He did ask if i feel any pain in my hip, which i said i don't really....not anymore, just used to the discomfort at this point for having the decreased mobility for so long, that i don't notice it anymore. It was funny how i noticed things about him which i remembered from when i was 15 and first meeting him again. His hair was jet white now, but he still sat like he just got off a horse..his huge hands when we shook hands...the grimace on his face when he's thinking of something..funny how those things stuck out again to me...a lot of memories came back seeing him again.

Then he said something interesting in that

"well, you are doing much better then I would have anticipated if I hadn't talked with you." to which of course i said..

"um, what do you mean?"

He went on to say that he would have expected me to have back pain, or weakness in my knee from the procedure by now...that most people experience that to a larger degree. I do experience back pain...but ONLY when i've been extremely active playing basketball or working out..then it goes away within a matter of minutes. He seemed genuinely surprised that i have about no pain whatsoever. I think being active, and staying active has played a HUGE part in that.

Basically, i felt grateful i'm doing as well as i have been with it. He did comment that eventually i will need to do something again probably..and i knew that going into the original surgery that others, one day will follow. But man, i'm great. All things considered. i workout..weights and cardio..play basketball..tennis..golf...i'm limited of course in all of these things...but i have become so used to the limitations that the inconvenience barely bothers me anymore.

He did a good job..that's for sure. Got my new lift....life is good.

Direct TV

So, i've talked about it before here, but i have the Sunday ticket on direct tv which gives me access to ALL the games in the NFL. Well, last sunday, all the games were pixelated and blurry, they couldn't come in. That sometimes happens when there's bad weather, but last sunday was beautiful. Today, same thing. I cant watch the games. So, i called..and after waiting on hold for 30 minutes, and running thru some troubele shooting, they realized my dish wasn't getting a good signal. WHy that only affects my premium nfl channels, i have no idea.

Bottom line, i had to schedule a service appt. They said it would cost me $70 to come out and reallign the dish..AND they couldn't get here until NOVEMBER 30TH!!! Seriously!! I told em' "let me get this straight...i bought the sunday ticket package for $250, it's a premuim and really, the only reason i have directv. I get all my NORMAL channels for free. Now, you are telling me to continue to get the PREMIUM channels i paid for i have to pay MORE to get my dish fixed???!! AND i have to wait until NOVEMBER 30th??!!!"

They waived the fee and are going to credit me back for the time i haven't been able to watch the sunday ticket.

HOWEVER, that's ridiculous. I have a 2 year contract with directv. I'm dumping it and going to comcast. I really love the sunday ticket, but that's the only reason i have satellite. The fact is, if they were a monopoly, i could understand the poor service better. But there are NUMEROUS offers and vendors that offer all the same things and usually, cheaper than directv. Waiting a month to get this fixed is just crazy.

Two years, and i'm off..and back to a place i never thought i'd go....Cable.

Good bye sweet, sweet nfl tickets....hello combined bargains on comcast ON DEMAND and high speed internet.

Jackasses.

Halloween

I'm a bit late with these pics...but here's some pics from Halloween i wanted to post. WE had it at shan's..which was alright. Not like what it used to be with 20 people..but instead about 7. I still filled up my water bottle with 3 beers and went out trick or treating with elaine and the girls. Shelly tripped in front of her friends about 20 minutes in..got embarressed and i had to take her home..but CARLY loved it! Surprising enuff...she even was passing out candy at the end of the nite...they were cute kids..